How to Beat Weakness After Gastric Sleeve Bariatric Surgery?
Gastric sleeve surgery is one common weight-loss procedure that has helped countless obese people. The journey to your healthier self starts with this surgery. Following surgery, you need to make certain lifestyle changes and should have the commitment to follow your surgeon’s guidelines, especially diet and physical activity, for long-term success. As gastric sleeve surgery is a major surgical procedure, it may have some postoperative challenges, such as experiencing weakness. However, here in this blog, Dr. Venugopal Pareek, one of the best weight loss surgeons, added his insights on the weakness after gastric sleeve surgery and provides the best remedies to aid patients in regaining their vitality and strength.
Before that, let’s know about gastric sleeve bariatric surgery.
Gastric sleeve bariatric surgery
It is one of the bariatric procedures, often called sleeve gastrectomy or vertical sleeve gastrectomy. This is a major surgical procedure performed laparoscopically under general anaesthesia. In this surgery, nearly 75% to 80% of the stomach is removed. This leaves a small, sleeve-shaped stomach that looks like a banana.
As most of the stomach is removed, it can’t hold more food. As you can’t eat more food, the calorie intake reduces and, over time, results in significant weight loss. This procedure also influences your hunger hormones and reduces your appetite. However, this procedure is recommended for severely obese people when other weight-loss methods fail to provide successful weight-loss results.
What causes the weakness after bariatric surgery?
Many people experience this post-surgery weakness after a few weeks or months. The main reason for this weakness might be due to insufficient nutrition and fatigue during the recovery process.
Common signs and symptoms of this post-surgery weakness include:
- Feeling dizzy
- Headaches
- Lightheadedness
- Feeling tired
Dehydration: As the surgery involves reducing the size of the stomach, its capacity to consume adequate fluids also reduces. This may result in dehydration, which may result in symptoms like dry mouth and a weak feeling.
Lack of nutrition: It becomes difficult for your body to absorb the necessary vitamins and minerals from the food you eat. So lack of nutrition after surgery, especially iron, vitamin D, vitamin B12, and other essential nutrients, can cause muscle weakness.
Low protein levels: Protein is very important in the body to maintain your energy levels. So lack of protein consumption makes you feel weak and tired after gastric sleeve surgery.
Recovery phase: After bariatric surgery, patients may naturally feel weak during the recovery phase because your body devotes more energy toward recovery.
Mental health: The emotional well-being of the patient is as important as physical health. After gastric sleeve surgery, some people might feel depressed or overwhelmed, which can manifest as physical weakness.
Over-exercising: Staying active during recovery is highly essential, but being overactive can result in fatigue. This is because your body might not receive adequate carbohydrates.
How to combat post-surgery weakness?
Stay hydrated: Drink more water—at least 2 litres of fluids daily. If you observe any signs of dehydration, drink adequate water.
Nutrition: Initially, after gastric sleeve surgery, you may not get the necessary vitamins and minerals from the food you consume. So doctors suggest taking vitamin supplements to ensure that your body gets the necessary nutrients it needs.
Protein diet: Protein builds muscle strength and also combats weakness after gastric sleeve. So include foods rich in protein, such as lean meats, eggs, fish, etc., in your regular diet. You can also have protein shakes.
Rest and recovery: Make sure your body gets enough rest after gastric sleeve surgery. Pay attention to your body; if you feel tired, take rest.
Mental health check: If you feel depressed or anxious, let your doctor know. They will guide and support you to overcome those mental barriers.
Balanced physical activity: Start with a light form of exercise such as walking, yoga, or light aerobics. Don’t go for strenuous physical activities until your doctors approve because they will drain your energy.
If you are obese and looking for the best bariatric surgeon in Hyderabad who is able to help with post-surgery complications, consult Dr. V Pareek. He has a team of top-class surgeons who can understand patients’ post-surgery challenges and guide them through every step until they recover. For more insights on surgery, call +91 91777 77715 to book a doctor’s appointment.